Why do I get a headache when I exercise?

As you exercise, tension in your abdomen or chest triggers the expansion of blood vessels in your head, and that pressure hurts. The throbbing pain in your head may vanish 5 minutes after your workout or not.

To help prevent a headache during exercise, warm up slowly, dial back the intensity of your exercise (working longer can be as good as working harder), and take it indoors, where it's air conditioned during hot weather. If this kind of headache happens to you a lot, try taking aspirin (or the Rx anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin) before your tennis match or weight work.

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